Relay Course Details

GOT LEGS AND KNOWS HOW TO USE ‘EM

Leg Details

On the maps, you'll see a bunch of skinny blue lines; these are cross-trails, also known as: PLACES TO GET OFF COURSE, SO DON'T DO IT!!! PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE COURSE MARKINGS AND SIGNAGE, you may enjoy the run more if you follow the course...

Leg Maps (below) include a description of what you'll be running on as you navigate between exchanges.

The course is segmented into "legs." Each leg starts and ends at an exchange.

Exit from Half Moon has changed again but the road crossing is still risky! At the corner of the parking lot, turn Right along the park road, Relay 2 - PINK. PAY ATTENTION TO THE MARKINGS! The texture of the Abyss depends on summer rain. Dog Drool: A little ditty, “It may be dry and you will fly. It may be muck and you will get stuck. It may be a wild ride and you will butt slide.”

Beginning and Ending are out and back so opposing runners are present. A face to face meeting in a blind turn could take an eye out. Watch Road Crossings. Dog Drool: A beautiful trail run. Some say harder than advertised.

Due to short distance of run, cars need to get moving. If fast team, you may want to leave Leg 5 runner at HalfMoon Follow blue as splits right from Leg 11-Pink at .4 mile. Follow blue as splits left from Leg 10-Green later. Route revision in the middle from last year. Blonds will get dirty. Non-blonds may too. Dog Drool: “Lots of quick & sharp nonsensical turns, diabolical drops and sprightly adventures.

At corner of the parking lot, turn Left along the park road, Relay 5 -White. Very dangerous road crossing. Watch closely for jump out off of Potto onto Kelly Road. Missing it would be a long mistake. Team parking is in lot on East side of Cedar Lake. Walk across road into ranch and then north to grassy exchange. Dog Drool, “Fast and easy trail and dirt road run. Except for the length and the horse remnants.”

Finish same as last year at the Nielsen Ratings Ranch. Early ratings estimates from our exchange host James Nielsen is for record viewership especially in the adult mud up to their ass demographic. Warning: The shoe and human wash zone offered by Pinckney cross-country teams could be R-rated.Start is opposite of Leg 8 finish from exchange to Post 5. Hard left turn at Post 5, someone will screw this up, will it be you? Horse trails before the swamp. Do not take Ultra by-pass, we will be watching. Use buddy system. Dog Drool: “We removed the paint on trees so who knows where Yellow Dog & Swamp Dog will take you through this mess!”

Start is at Nielsen’s. Make momma proud sliding down the Stripper Pole. Dirt Ladder climb will be forgotten when you get whiplash in the zig zags. Runs opposite of Leg 6 Blue from Horse Trail Post 5 to Hell Creek Ranch. Dog Drool: “It started out as the flattest leg in the race but not now. Honestly, we make this thing hillier every year and nobody complains. Huh, what, oh, I thought that was a compliment.”

The path to Hell is the river of death, Styx. Your tormented soul is ours. Multiple river crossings and river run with dangerous river rocks and deep holes. Life jacket or swim wings optional Keep moving as there is NO EXCHANGE IN HELL; you're going all the way to Silver Lake. Dog Drool, “Flat and wet to Hell. Hilly and dry out of Hell.”

New loop with a bit of leg 4, leg 2, leg 1 and a bit of the leg of the naked woodchopper. Splits from Leg 11-Pink at 0.4 miles and Leg 4-Blue later. Fun zig-zags, power climbs, and rushing downhills. Dog Drool: One year at 7:45 am Scotty Dog heard a woodchopper up the trail just before the relay runners were to arrive. He went to warn the woodchopper but was stunned to see the woodchopper was buck naked. He stealthy exited and called the other dogs to stay away. (No, they were not filming Juliet Naked). Of course, the rest of the day our phones were filled with lines like, “Frying Bacon” and “Eating S’mores. The question is what activities are really moronic to do naked? Please, write your comments on your Cheating Bastards Sheet. We will read some at the awards, maybe a prize?

A long, steady power runs on the famous Pottawatomi trail. Watch out for bikes at your back. Splits from Leg 4-Blue and Leg 10-Green at 0.4 miles. Switches over to Silver Lake trail for a nice view of Pickerel Lake and then onto Crooked Lake Trail. Dog Drool, “Miles of hilly, rugged trails Watch the geo-web as it snags & trips like a bear trap.“

At the corner of the parking lot, turn LEFT. DO NOT follow Ultra PINK to the right. Potto from Half Moon west to huge trail sign, turn right out to Bartell Rd and exchange behind the gate across the Boy Scout Camp (Not on the road). Be Friendly, Kind, Cheerful, Clean, Helpful, and Courteous on Scout grounds so they'll have us back next year. Dog Drool:” On my honor, I will do my best.”

The Vertigo we all know & love. The recipe is a stock of nasty downhills, nice trails, sunny dirt roads, and steep hill climbs. Add a splash to top it off. Ultra and Relay may vary at the end.Dog Drool: “Can be brutally hot this late in the day. Stay hydrated and cool off at the exchange pond and shower.

Leave the cows at Farmer Johns, and feel like you’re on the lam. Careen through the fields and woods like the hounds are at your heels. Decide if it’s best to go over, under, or through the fences. Prison escapees don’t have blazed trails to follow, and neither do you. Get out of sight as you sink into the muck between the cattails. Shake the dogs off your scent when you make a splash as you return to Farmer John’s. You finish where you started, hopefully you’re fast enough to make bed check.--Leg description by Mike Leary! Thanks, Mike!

A few more hills for your enjoyment. Grab a drink at the Aid station along the way ( not just for Ultra).Careful attention to turns as some are sharp and bad time to go off course. Merges with ultra 50k leg for last ¾ mile on the Crooked Lake Trail. Relay finishes on right hand side, Ultras left. Dog Drool: “Thanks for participating.”